Full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates who previously completed part-time National Diploma (ND) programs have strongly opposed plans to exclude them from participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. The protest coincided with the start of registration for the second stream of Batch C mobilisation on Monday, January 6.
The affected graduates assembled early Monday at the NYSC secretariat in Lagos, holding placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” demanding their inclusion in the mobilisation process. Speaking on behalf of the group, Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, voiced their concerns over the proposed exclusion.
He described the policy as unfair, highlighting that many of them had made significant efforts to transition from part-time ND programs to full-time HND programs. Temitope added that letters had been sent to relevant authorities requesting intervention, but no response had been received. He appealed to the Director-General of the NYSC and the Minister of Education to resolve the issue.
Remarks From Some Officials
Adebola Osunfunrewa, a representative of the Education Rights Campaign, condemned the policy, describing it as a symptom of the declining state of Nigeria’s education system. In response to the protesters, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates that their concerns had been relayed to the Director-General at the national headquarters.
Itohan urged the graduates to remain calm, emphasising that their grievances were being taken seriously. He assured them that their protest had been officially recorded and escalated to the NYSC’s top management. He also highlighted that the Director-General, seen as a father figure who prioritises the youth’s welfare, would carefully review the issue in alignment with the existing policies and guidelines.
